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Thursday, November 01, 2012

Anita Clenney - An Inspiration Junky

Some people do things because they need to be done. Dirty
dishes, vacuuming, writing a new book. Not me. I need a rush of inspiration to
get me moving. I’ll pick up a decorating magazine and realize “hey, I need to
spiff up the house.” Or how about dust all those gorgeous candle holders that
my husband barely tolerates so I can use them without catching the house on
fire. I don’t like being that way. I want to be one of those organized,
self-disciplined people who just get it done because it needs to be done. But
I’m the way I am, and I have to live with it or change it. At the moment,
inspiration is still steering the boat.

This brings me to writing, where inspiration truly is a
help. Writers love telling stories or we wouldn’t be writers. It takes a lot of
hard work to build a plot and characters into something that’s entertaining and
engaging. There’s nothing worse than staring at that blank page with your
fingers hovering over the keyboard and you have no idea what to write. I don’t
call it writer’s block. I just have those moments when I need something to
shake my creativity loose and give me that “ah ha” moment when things fall into
place.

But sometimes inspiration comes when you don’t want it. I
remember seeing the last Harry Potter movie. I was there to enjoy the movie
when inspiration attacked me right there in my seat. It was such a powerful
burst I got out my cell phone, a pen, and a scrap piece of paper. Or it may
have been a fast food napkin I’d crammed into my purse. Anyway, as the movie
was playing, I was sitting there with my phone held two inches above the paper,
giving enough light so I could see what I was jotting down without disturbing anyone
else. Of course hubby thought I was crazy, but I couldn’t not pay attention when
ideas were flying at me like bats. It was great.

Lots of things inspire me. Movies, dreams, and driving through
the countryside can be inspiration goldmines. I have very vivid dreams. If I
could fully capture the essence of them in a book, I would have lots of
bestsellers. And I seem to get great ideas just as I’m going to sleep or waking
up. I’m not sure what that says about my conscious mind, but I’ve learned to
keep a notepad or my cell phone by the bed. Many a night I’ve had my head
underneath the covers so I didn’t disturb hubby while writing notes for a
story.

There are other things that guarantee inspiration. Castles
do it every time. Beautiful or haunting places. Haunting…hmmm I love ghostly
anything. And mysteries, I love mysteries. How about catacombs, mysterious
curses, relics, and old tombs? Love it! And sexy heroes. Yay! How about two of
them?

All these elements are in Guardians of Stone, the first in my new relic seekers series coming
December 4th. It’s described as Indiana Jones meets Stephanie Plum.

A feisty heroine with a sixth sense, and
two sexy heroes, a mercenary, and a dark, eccentric billionaire are on a hunt
for four powerful relics that could change their lives…and the course of
history.

Faelan – A Highland
Warrior Brief. Faelan Connor was the most powerful
warrior the clan had known, until a demon locked him in a time vault where he
slept for 150 years, while he waited to save the world and meet his destined
mate. You know how his story ends. Now we’ll travel back to the 19th century
and experience Faelan’s journey through his eyes. We’ll find out how he became
the Mighty Faelan and discover that he may have met Bree even before she was
born. And we’ll find out what really happened inside the time vault.

So come on, share with us the craziest inspiration you’ve
found. One random commenter will receive an autographed ARC of Guardians of
Stone.

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita
Clenney grew up an avid reader, devouring Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books
before moving on to mysteries and romance. After working as a secretary, a
Realtor, teacher’s assistant, booking agent for Aztec Fire Dancers, and a brief
stint in a pickle factory (picture Lucy and Ethel--lasted half a day)…she
realized she'd missed the fork in the road that led to her destiny. Now she
spends her days writing mysteries and paranormal romantic suspense about Secret Warriors, Ancient Evil and Destined
Love. Anita lives in suburban Virginia, outside Washington DC, with her
husband and two kids.

22 comments:

I am not sure this counts because I am not a writer but my main source of inspiration would have to be a ticking clock. For me, just knowing that time is running out for me to finish something never fails to get me going. I am also a procrastinator at heart and then wonder why I waited so long to start my 'chores.'

I Haven't read anything by Anita but I sure just added her to my wishlist! Thesebooks sound amazing! :)

I wouldn't call it inspiration, but when it comes to housework, it has to be in the middle of the night before I get in the mood to clean. I'm not sure if it's because of the quietness or if it's just that I'm such a night owl, but someone could hold me at gunpoint during the day telling me to clean and I would have to think hard about doing it, LOL!

Thanks for the fun post and congrats to Anita on her newest release! I also haven't had the pleasure of reading her books yet but they sound fantastic! I'm not a writer, but I do find inspiration from books! Reading an uplifting or funny book changes my outlook on life sometimes and makes me more willing to give new things a try :)

Well I had planned on writing about the inspiration that drives me and my daily life, until I saw the cover for Faelen's prequel. Now, the only inspiration I can think of is that picture and the absolute need it creates in me to find that guy's twin brother.

I wouldn't call it inspiration, but I try to do most of my cleaning and other housework at the beginning of the week. That way I have more time at the end of the week to read and do things slow and easy.

Life is long and then, all of a sudden,it's not. This has inspired me to spendas much time as possible with our ten grandchildren. I want them to have lotsof good memories of Honey and I when we are gone. I want them to always know howmuch they are loved!

Pat, very beautiful sentiment. I've found that the older I get, I'm getting so much more sentimental and conscious of family. My kids are pre teen and teen, and I've been thinking so much lately about how I need to do more to make this a great home. Memories are forever. We can't put enough emphasis on that.

Barbara, there are so many wonderful people in the world who are more concerned about others than themselves. I love hearing those stories. In fact, my mom is like that. She's amazing, the most caring, selfless person I know. She always puts others first. She's a huge inspiration for me.

I've loved Anita's books and can't wait to read more by her! I think I need something to inspire me not to be such a procrastinator! I guess my weird inspirations would be the random connections I make in my brain which cause me to spout off things that confuse people because they weren't in my head for the train of thought. My mom and I both do that and a lot of times we're the only ones who know how the other got to a certain point. If I say something and people look at me funny, I ask them if they want me to give them the train of thoughts that led to my seemingly random statement. ;D